Arsenal will look to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa as they make the short journey to Fulham on Saturday lunch-time.
Laurent Koscielny will miss the game through suspension while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has joined Thomas Vermaelen, Mikel Arteta and Abu Diably on the injury-list.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is confident that he can secure deals for France internationals Yohan Cabaye and Karim Benzema, the Express understands.
The Gunners saw a bid of around £10m for midfielder Cabaye rejected out of hand by Newcastle United, and come in for criticism from their manager Alan Pardew for its timing though it is believed that an improved offer would be considered by the North East club.
Real Madrid striker Benzema has also been linked with a move to the Emirates, though it remains unclear whether Carlo Ancelotti would be willing to sell.
The Spanish giants have a lack of out-and-out strikers, but have themselves been liked with a move for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, who is no longer on Wenger’s radar.
Elsewhere, the Metro understand that Schalke have opened talks with Arsenal regarding a possible deal that would see Lukas Podolski move to the Bundesliga side on a season-long loan.
